How Robert Downey Jr Built a $435M Fortune From MCU Salaries
You have to admit, it takes huge talent to build such net worth.
Both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Robert Downey Jr. have made pretty much equal efforts to boost each other's careers.
Despite being an Oscar-nominated actor when he first joined the MCU cast in 2007, Robert Downey Jr. could not have imagined the success that comic book movies would bring him.
The same goes for the MCU, which would definitely not be the same without the actor as the face of the iconic Iron Man and the original Avengers team.
This life-changing event led not only to international success and recognition, but also to huge amounts of money coming Robert Downey Jr.'s way.
Although his first check for playing Iron Man was only $2.5 million, the stakes went much higher pretty quickly.
Just a few years later, he was paid $50 million for the first Avengers movie, not to mention a backend percentage of the movie's profits.
Marvel had to spend quite a bit on the actor, but they knew how much more his presence would bring them in return.
With many more Marvel movies coming his way, Downey Jr. made sure that his payments kept getting higher and higher.
2013, 2014, and 2015 were the banner years for the actor, with him topping Forbes' list of the highest-paid actors in the industry.
He only lost his spot in 2016, still earning a modest $33 million from Captain America: Civil War, but regained it in 2018, breaking his own record.
Thanks to the two premieres of Spider-Man: Homecoming and Avengers: Infinity War, the actor finished the year with $81 million.
Of course, the final Avengers movie, as well as the last time RDJ portrayed Tony Stark, would have the biggest payday of all, at $75 million for a movie.
It's hard to know exactly how much the star makes, including all the back office deals and percentages, but according to CBR, the estimated amount Robert Downey Jr. made from all the Marvel movies adds up to $435 million.
This number easily makes him one of the most successful and powerful actors in Hollywood.
If you're feeling nostalgic and want to rewatch the original MCU movies to see the build up of the amazing comic adaptations universe, you can stream both Iron Man and Avengers movies on Disney Plus.
Sources: Insider, CBR, Celebrity Net Worth